'The Muqaddimah' by Ibn Khaldun

Amazon

"The Muqaddimah," which translates to "The Introduction," was written in 1377 by the Islamic historian Khaldun. It's an attempt to strip away biases of historical records and find universal elements in the progression of humanity.

"While much of what was believed then is now disproven after 700 more years of progress, it's still very interesting to see what was understood at this time and the overall worldview when it's all considered together," Zuckerberg writes.

'Why Nations Fail' by Daron Acemoglu and James A. Robinson

Amazon

"Why Nations Fail" is an overview of 15 years of research by MIT economist Daren Acemoglu and Harvard political scientist James Robinson, and was first published in 2012.

The authors argue that "extractive governments" use controls to enforce the power of a select few, while "inclusive governments" create open markets that allow citizens to spend and invest money freely, and that economic growth does not always indicate the long-term health of a country.

Zuckerberg's interest in philanthropy has grown alongside his wealth in recent years, and he writes that he chose this book to better understand the origins of global poverty.

'The Rational Optimist' by Matt Ridley

Amazon

"The Rational Optimist," first published in 2010, is the most popular and perhaps the most controversial of popular-science writer Matt Ridley's books.

In it, he argues that the concept of markets is the source of human progress, and that progress is accelerated when they are kept as free as possible. The resulting evolution of ideas will consistently allow humankind to improve its living conditions, despite the threats of climate change and overpopulation.

Zuckerberg says that he picked up this book because it posits the inverse theory of "Why Nations Fail," which argues that social and political forces control economic ones.

"I'm interested to see which idea resonates more after exploring both frameworks," Zuckerberg writes.

A fundamental finding that they include in "Portfolios of the Poor" is that extreme poverty flourishes in areas not where people live dollar to dollar or where poor purchasing decisions are widespread, but instead arises where they lack access to financial institutions to store their money.

"It's mind-blowing that almost half the world — almost 3 billion people — live on $2.50 a day or less. More than one billion people live on $1 a day or less," Zuckerberg writes. "I hope reading this provides some insight into ways we can all work to support them better as well."

'World Order' by Henry Kissinger

Amazon

In former US Secretary of State Henry Kissinger's 2014 book, "World Order," the 91-year-old analyzes the ways different parts of the world have understood the concept of empire and political power for centuries, and how the modern global economy has brought them together in often tense or violent ways.

It's "about foreign relations and how we can build peaceful relationships throughout the world," Zuckerberg writes. "This is important for creating the world we all want for our children, and that's what I'm thinking about these days."

"The Varieties of Religious Experience" is a collection of written lectures that explore the religious consciousness and the mechanics of how people use religion as a source of meaning, compelling them to move onward through life with energy and purpose.

"When I read 'Sapiens,' I found the chapter on the evolution of the role of religion in human life most interesting and something I wanted to go deeper on," Zuckerberg writes.

'Sapiens' by Yuval Noah Harari

Amazon

First published in 2014, "Sapiens" is a critically acclaimed international best seller by Hebrew University of Jerusalem historian Harari. He uses his book to track the evolution of Homo sapiens from hunter-gatherers into self-empowered "gods" of the future.

"Following the Muqaddimah, which was a history from the perspective of an intellectual in the 1300s, 'Sapiens' is a contemporary exploration of many similar questions," Zuckerberg writes.

'The Structure of Scientific Revolutions' by Thomas S. Kuhn

Amazon

If there was ever a philosophy book to read by a physicist, it's probably "The Structure of Scientific Revolutions."

Since its initial publication in 1962, this look at the evolution of science and the effect it has on the modern world has become "one of the most cited academic books of all time," according to the Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy. Zuckerberg thinks that being aware of how scientific breakthroughs are the catalysts for social progression can be a "force for social good."

Kuhn's book is best known for introducing the phrase " paradigm shift," representing instances in scientific history when a perspective was fundamentally shifted, like when quantum physics replaced Newtonian mechanics.

'Dealing with China' by Henry M. Paulson Jr.

Amazon

Zuckerberg has been intensely fascinated with Chinese culture over the past several years. He's been learning to speak Mandarin Chinese and has said that one of his long-term goals is convincing the Chinese government to let its people use Facebook.

"Dealing with China," by the former US Treasury secretary, explores China's recent rise in global influence and how it affects the world.

"Over the last 35 years, China has experienced one of the greatest economic and social transformations in human history," Zuckerberg writes. "Hundreds of millions of people have moved out of poverty. By many measures, China has done more to lift people out of poverty than the whole rest of the world combined."

'The Beginning of Infinity' by David Deutsch

Amazon

Zuckerberg's final selection of the year was Oxford physicist David Deutsch's "The Beginning of Infinity," a sprawling look at the progress of humanity following the Scientific Revolution. It touches on everything from art and science to politics and philosophy.

'The Better Angels of Our Nature' by Steven Pinker

Amazon

Zuckerberg admits that this 800-page, data-rich book from a Harvard psychologist can seem intimidating.

But the writing is actually easy to get through, and he thinks that Pinker's study of how violence has decreased over time despite being magnified by a 24-hour news cycle and social media is something that can offer a life-changing perspective.

It should be noted that Bill Gates also considers this one of the most important books he's ever read.

'The End of Power' by Moisés Naím

Zuckerberg launched his book club with this lofty title from Naím, former executive director of the World Bank and senior fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.

It's a historical investigation of the shift of power from authoritative governments, militaries, and major corporations to individuals. This is clearly seen in what's now become a Silicon Valley cliché: the disruptive startup.

"The trend towards giving people more power is one I believe in deeply," Zuckerberg writes.

'On Immunity' by Eula Biss

Amazon

Zuckerberg says that Biss' investigation into the benefits of vaccination is necessary to read, considering the anti-vaccination movement in the US and parts of Europe.

"The science is completely clear: Vaccinations work and are important for the health of everyone in our community," Zuckerberg writes, adding that this book was highly recommended to him by scientists and public-health workers.

"This book explores the reasons why some people question vaccines, and then logically explains why the doubts are unfounded and vaccines are in fact effective and safe," he says.

'The Idea Factory' by Jon Gertner

Amazon

Fast Company editor Jon Gertner's 2012 book "The Idea Factory" tells the history of Bell Labs from the 1920s through the 1980s, in which the invention of the transistor revolutionized the world of technology and the innovation-fostering management style that rules Silicon Valley was first developed.

'The Three-Body Problem' by Cixin Liu

Amazon

"The Three-Body Problem" was first published in China in 2008, and the English translation that came out last year won the 2015 Hugo Award for Best Novel, an award for sci-fi book of the year.

It's set during Mao Zedong's Cultural Revolution and kicks off when an alien race decides to invade Earth after the Chinese government covertly sends a signal into space. It's notable because it's been reported to be indicative of a cultural shift in China, where rapid modernization and progress have captured the public's imagination.

Zuckerberg writes that it's a fun break from some of the heavier material he's been reading in his book club.

'The Player of Games' by Iain M. Banks

Amazon

"The Player of Games" was first published in 1988 and is the second in the "Culture" series. It explores what a civilization would look like if hyper-advanced technology was created to serve human needs and surpassed human capabilities.

'Orwell's Revenge' by Peter Huber

Amazon

Huber, a fellow at the Manhattan Institute for Policy Research, published this unofficial sequel to George Orwell's " 1984" in 1994, a time when internet and telecommunications technology were opening up new methods of communication. The novel imagines a world in which citizens use the technology that once enslaved them to liberate themselves.

"After seeing how history has actually played out, Huber's fiction describes how tools like the internet benefit people and change society for the better," Zuckerberg writes.

"It explores important topics around how energy works, how our production and use might evolve, and how this affects climate change," Zuckerberg writes, noting that he also plans on reading Smil's book " Making the Modern World."

'Rational Ritual' by Michael Suk-Young Chwe

Princeton University Press

Zuckerberg thinks that this book by UCLA economist Michael Suk-Young Chwe can help its readers learn how to best use social media.

"The book is about the concept of 'common knowledge' and how people process the world not only based on what we personally know, but what we know other people know and our shared knowledge as well," Zuckerberg writes.

Chwe's idea may sound complicated, but it's essentially a breakdown of the psychology behind people's interactions with others in public settings, and how they use these communities and rituals to help form their own identities.

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